Andrea Riseborough reveals she fell for her Luxor co-star Karim Saleh while working on the film

‘I found the love of my life’: Andrea Riseborough reveals she fell for her Luxor co-star Karim Saleh while working on the film

Andrea Riseborough has revealed she found the ‘love of her life’ while working on the set of her latest movie Luxor. 

The actress, 38, told how she fell for co-star Karim Saleh, 42, during filming and said it couldn’t have been more of a ‘celebratory experience’ for her. 

The film sees the Happy-Go-Lucky star feature as an aid worker who rekindles an old romance in Syria to forget the traumas she has seen, with Karim portraying her old flame.

True love: Andrea Riseborough has revealed she found the ‘love of her life’ in Karim Saleh (pictured together) while working on the set of her latest film Luxor, released on Friday

On-screen romance quickly turned into a real-life love story for the co-stars as Andrea admitted that she has fallen for the Counterpart actor. 

She told the i newspaper: ‘It’s the film on which I found the love of my life. It couldn’t be a more celebratory experience for me.’

The film explores the idea that people never fall out of love with their old partners, something the TV star believes is ‘true’. 

She explained: ‘I think it’s true. And also how many times have we really been in love?’

Chemistry: On-screen romance quickly turned into real love for the Happy-Go-Lucky actress, 38, as she admitted that she has fallen for Karim, 42 (pictured in February)

Chemistry: On-screen romance quickly turned into real love for the Happy-Go-Lucky actress, 38, as she admitted that she has fallen for Karim, 42 (pictured in February)

Speaking to the publication, Andrea also reflected on the surreal moment when Madonna, who directed her in W.E. in 2011, and Patti Smith used her ‘as a table’ at the movie’s Venice premiere. 

She said: ‘There were using my legs as a table. I felt so out of place: it was unreal. Madonna kept looking at me, and said to Patti, “She’s never usually this quiet.” 

‘I was just frozen. Also, I was serving my purpose as a table, albeit a well-dressed one.’

The Brighton Rock star then met singer-songwriter Patti, 73, again at New York gallery MoMa.

Romance: The film explores the idea that people never fall out of love with their old partners, something the TV star believes is 'true'

Romance: The film explores the idea that people never fall out of love with their old partners, something the TV star believes is ‘true’

She added that she is delighted that she is now able to call the Because the Night hitmaker a friend, thanks to that second meeting.

Recalling walking back to her car after the event, she said she heard someone say they were a ‘really big fan’ of hers and felt like she might ‘pee’ herself when she realised it was Patti.

After taking at an after-party about one of Andrea’s favourite pieces of Patti’s work, a short play called Cowboy Mouth, the pair ‘became friends’.

But the TV star added that she does not get the chance to Patti, or anyone else for that matter, ‘very often’ due to her hectic work schedule.

Famous friends: Andrea reflected on the surreal moment when Madonna (pictured February, 2015), who directed her in W.E. in 2011, and Patti Smith used her 'as a table'

Famous friends: Andrea reflected on the surreal moment when Madonna (pictured February, 2015), who directed her in W.E. in 2011, and Patti Smith used her ‘as a table’

But due to the Covid-19 pandemic she has also not been able to see her parents since last Christmas, she told the i newspaper.

Andrea is still keeping busy working on a number of other projects, including Please Baby Please, which will also star The Queen Gambit’s Harry Melling and Demi Moore. 

She first made her film debut in Venus in 2006 and has since starred in hits including Made in Dagenham, Shadow Dancer and Birdman.

The TV star also won critical acclaim for her performance in the Channel 4 miniseries The Devil’s Whore and a BAFTA nomination for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Long Walk to Finchley.

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